Frequently Asked Questions about Working with The Ledbetter Group

Why is ‘how-to’ not enough for true dental practice change?

Because real change isn’t about knowing what to do—it’s about doing it, consistently, as a team. A checklist or manual can offer steps, but it won’t shift mindsets or build habits. That’s why we train in person, working side-by-side with your team to install systems, build leadership, and create a new way of operating—one that sticks. You can’t learn to ride a bike by reading about it; you have to get on and practice. The same is true for transforming your dental practice. Our consulting provides the real-time coaching, accountability, and hands-on support needed to create lasting results.

How much work will consulting be for me, the dentist?

Not nearly as much as you might think.  We get our results through your team.  We train them to be more efficient, to work smarter, not harder.  You, the doctor, will be delegating to the team, and we will be training them directly.  In the end, the staff and the doctor will all be happier. Life at work will become much more manageable.

How is training delivered in-office?

Training is delivered during your normal office hours in person, so there’s no need to close your practice or adjust your schedule. We provide over 80 hours of in-person, hands-on training focused on real-time implementation. Our consultants work side-by-side with your team to improve scheduling, increase case acceptance, enhance hygiene recall, and streamline daily operations—all while patients are being seen.

What results can I expect from a dental consulting engagement?

Our clients typically see measurable growth, with an average increase of $18,000 in monthly revenue per dentist well within a year. The first $10,000 per month increase typically comes within the first few months and close to $20,000 per month increase within 5-8 months.  Results include improved scheduling, reduced no-shows, increased case acceptance, stronger hygiene recall, and a steady flow of new patients. You can also expect less management stress, better team communication, and a more profitable, smoothly run practice. We work alongside you during normal operations to implement proven systems tailored to your goals.

Where do you work? Where is your office?

We have offices in the Metro Atlanta area, but we provide consulting services at clients offices across the United States. Our dental practice consultants will travel to your office for in-person training & coaching. We have had clients in small towns and very large cities. The principles we teach are the same, wherever you are.

Do my staff and I have to travel to you?

Not at all. We bring everything to you. All consultants travel to you and your office. We do in-office training while you are operating as normal, so there is no lost production. The best way to learn to ride a bike is by doing it, not sitting in a classroom or seminar talking about it. I do lead a team building, professional & effective communication, and breakthrough seminar, which I mostly do on Fridays (which is an off day for most of my clients). If you do work 5 days a week, which is quite rare, except for multi-doctor practices, then one production day would be lost for the seminar.

Do you get your production increases by recommending I do a fee increase?

Great question, and the answer is: absolutely not. Actually, I highly recommend my clients not raise their fees while consulting with me, so there is no confusion as to the cause of the increased revenues. I work with many fee-for-service dentists as well as dentists who are heavy on insurance. For a practice with 60-80% insurance PPO patients, a fee increase may increase their gross production, but will result in very small increase in net production and collections. We average $18,000 per month increase in collections without fee increases.

Do you get increases by coaching me on how to diagnose dentistry?

Definitely not, as that would be unethical. I have never coached a dentist in how to diagnose dentistry. You can never be successful long-term by cheating people. Diagnosing will always be a decision for the dentist, alone. I will say that I coach my dentists on how to present treatment plans to be more effective and get more people to say yes, but I am not in any way involved in the treatment planning process. I have been blessed to work with some of the most honest, ethical, and outstanding dentists in the country who are really good people. I can assure you that none of them would change the way they diagnose dentistry to make an extra buck.

What if I get a consultant I do not like or a trainee that is not very experienced?

With our dental practice consulting company that would not be possible. Every gets me. We are a small company, so there are no new trainees, nor will there ever be. I have been doing this for more than 30 years, since 1989. Every testimonial on this website is about my clients' experience with me, and you are guaranteed to get me as your consultant.

Will there be turnover in my staff, if I hire you to consult my practice?

That is unlikely. We are very staff friendly and know that we must win the staff over, because they are the ones who are going to produce the breakthrough in the practice's productivity. We give staff members every opportunity to be successful through excellent training and development. To be honest, the vast majority of turnover or staff changes I have experienced were situations where my client know going into the consulting that he/she had a weak link or bad apple. Some of those situations ended in termination, However, some worked out and the staff member's attitude shifted, and they became team players. Unfortunately, the truth is that there are un-coachable, negative people out there and you do not want them on your staff, but you would most certainly have concerns about them already. If you feel like you have a strong team, then you should expect no turnover during or after the consulting process. Staff, naturally, have trepidation in the beginning, but soon realize that we are on their side too. We practice Win/Win principles. The doctor wins, the staff win, the patients win.

What if I do not get results?

First, we offer a free analysis to make sure you have everything in place to achieve production increases. This eliminates those we cannot help. If our analysis shows that you do have potential to increase production then the only way you would not see results is if you are un-willing to be coached. Everything we recommend is ethical, orthodox, tried, true and proven. So, you must be committed to making positive changes to get results in your practice. Typically results can be seen in the first few months. I will be honest, there have been rare occasions where there was someone weak or un-coachable on the doctor's staff and the results didn't come as quickly as usual, just delayed.

How does the consulting process work with The Ledbetter Group?

We tailor our consulting to the needs of our client, focused on the personal and professional goals of the dentist. However, we provide a basic outline of the typical process on our "What to Expect" page. Please contact us to ask additional questions about consulting with us.